Friday, October 23, 2009

It has been quite a while since I last posted, but plenty of things have been going on. Jeff and Kate submitted all the paperwork for the Chicago Green Homes and we have been approved. Also, we made it through Zoning Review unscathed. Next --- building permits.

Remember, only a few if any similar projects have been done in Chicago, so we are breaking new ground. Because we qualified as a Chicago Green Home, we are allowed to go through the expedited Green Permit process, which allows you to receive your permit more speedily than non-green projects. As we start this process, I'm sure I will have plenty to report on..

As for now, Michael and I are doing the fun stuff --- picking out the designs for our kitchen and baths. For our bath vanities, we went to Advantage Kitchen and Bath in Niles, Illinois. They have a very nice selection and excellent sales people.

As for our kitchen design, we are in love with modern kitchens, especially with fully integrated appliances. But the well known companies that provide this, like Poggenpohl and ArcLinea, are incredibly pricey. We are planning to get some quotes, but are a little disheartened by the projected costs.

Fortunately, Jeff found a company called EcoUrban Collection ( http://www.ecourbancollection.com/index.html )which is a line of environmentally responsible, American-made, Eurostyle cabinetry for kitchens, baths and offices. From what we've seen on their website, we like their vision and their quality. And according to one of the owners, these are much more reasonably priced than comparable companies. Another great thing about them is that they are local, rather than having components coming from Germany or Italy. We are anxious to see their wares and determine if they are the right designers for us!